Automatic blank-feeding device



May '18, 1926. 1,584,713

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed July 15, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1% 706* if 75 J9 May 18 1926. 1,584,713

I C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed July 15, 1 922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 18 1926.

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' Original Filed July 15, 1922 May 18 1926.

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed July 15, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May18,

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

OESARE BARBIERI, or NE Original application wYoRK, N. Y., CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

I'AssIGnon TO THE VORTEX use. coaa AUTOMATIC. BLANK-FEEDING DEVICE.

filed I111y 15, 1922,'Seri a1No. 575,341. Divided and this application filed May a,

1924. Serial No. 710,749.

This invention is a division of my appli- -The invention (in a referred form) is ilcation for patent for an Automatic blank lustrated intthe drawings and hereinafter feeding apparatus for cup forming mamore fully described,

chines, filed July 15, 1922, Serial Number v 575,341. The present invention relates more particularly to an automatic cup blank eleof a cup forming machine showing the autovating and feeding mechanism for a paper matic cup blank elevating mechanism em cup forming machine, and is provided for bodying the principles of this invention.

the purpose of elevating a stack of cup On the drawings:

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical detail blanks and then feeding paper cup blanks view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. singly from the top of the stack onto a table into the field of operation of a cup blank taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2. advancing mechanism to be advanced into the field of operation of rotating forming feed mechanism taken on the line 4-4.of,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical view Figure 4 is a vertical detail section of the dies to permitthe blanks-to he formed into Figure 2 with partsvshown in elevation.

cups.

an automatic table cup blanks.

elevating mechanism for Figure 5 is a detail view taken on line It is an object of this invention to provide 55 of ig. 2 with parts omitted.

- Figure 6 is a detail view of the feed release mechanism taken on line 6-6 of Fig- It is also an object of this invention to are 2. provide an attachment for a cup forming machine whereby a stack of cup blanksis v As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a ma- Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation adapted to be automatically raised a prechine frame having mounted thereon a stadetermined amount each time aqblank is retionary inclined table 2 which is rigidly moved from the stack and automatically supported upon a bracket 3 of theframe -1.

delivered into the machine. I

Another object of the invention is to proslide table 4- which is mounted beneath the vide a blank feed mechanism .wherein a; table 2 upon suitable guides, the ends of blank supportingcarriage is adapted to be which are supported on the bracket 3. An automatically elevated each time a blank is arm or l'ever- 5 is pivotally mounted on a automatically. removed therefrom and delivshaft 6 supported on bearings secured to the cred upon a feed table by a suction means machine frame. The free end of the lever provided for the purpose. I

It is a further object of this invention to I provide a cup making machine blank feed so that with each oscillation of .the lever 5 attachment having a mcchanism'for e'levatwill cause .a corresponding longitudinal ing' a blank carrying carriage; said carriage movement of the slide table 4 substantially adapted to be elevated only when the level in the plane of the meeting surfaces'of' the of the uppermost blank on the carriage is at cup to provide an improved automatic blank oscillating the lever 5: In the form shown,-

Also mounted on the machine frame 1 is a 5 is connected by means of a link'toone of the supporting-brackets of the slide table 4 forming dies of the cup formingmame.

Any suitable means may be provided for feeding mechanism for a cup forming maa plate or arm 7 is mounted upon the pivot 'chine, said mechanism beii'ig operable from shaft 6 with the free end of said arm 7 conthe machine and having a blank carrying nect/ed by a spring 8 to the lever 5. A boss carriage adapted when a blank'is removed 9 is provided on the lever 5 with an adjusttherefrom to be elevatedby a feed device able screw 10 extending therethrough and operable by amechanism automatically govarranged to normally contact with .an extension 11 formed on the arm 7. The spring 8' erned by the level on the carriage.

Other and furtl v closures in the spe panying drawings.

of the uppermost blank ier important objects of cification and the accomcontact with the extension-1101 the arm this invention will be apparent from-the dis- 7. The upper end of an operating bar or rod 12 is connected with a 'crankarm, not shown. The lower end of the rod 12 pivotally connected intermediate the ends of a lever 13 to a support 14 adjustable by means of a screw 15. The lever 13 has the lower end thereof pivotally supported on a stub shaft 16 supported in a bearing 17 formed on a bracket 18 secured to the machine frame 1.

Mounted upon the stationary table 2 is a blank retaining spring 19 beneath .which cup blanks slide when being advanced to the reciprocating table 4. Secured upon the upper surface of the movable table 4 is a blank guide block 20 and a blank guide flange 21. Secured to the bottom of thestationary table 2 and projecting out over the top of the shiftable table 4 is a blank stop 22. able table 4.

Attached to the slidable table 4 is one end of a bar 24 having a rack 25 formed or secured thereon. Fixed on the machine frame 1 is one end of a horizontal beam or bar 26, the outer end of which is supported by means of parallel upright guide rails 27 having the lower ends supported on the bracket 18. Slidably engaged on the bar 24 is a block to which the upper end of the lever 13 is connected. to permit the lever 13 when operating to slide the block back and forth on the rack bar extension 24. Fastened to the slidable block is one arm of an angle member 28 which is disposed to slide on the stationary bar 26. The angle member 28 carries a cup blank gripper mechanism 29. A toggle device 39 is connected with the gripper mechahism 29. Fixed on the sta tionary bar-26 is a boss 31 having a set screw 32 adjustably engaged therethrough and disposed in the path of the toggle device to break the straight line toggle connection when the gripper mechanism 29 is at one end of its movement. Also fixed on the bar 26 is a boss 33 having an adjustable set screw 34 disposed in the path of the toggle device 30 to move the same into a straight line position when the gripper mechanism is at the other end of its movement. hen the toggle device is moved into straight line position the gripper mechanism is actuated to grip a cup blank on the stationary table. \Vhen the toggle device straight line position is broken by contact with the set screw 32 the gripper mechanism releases the cup blank,

Bolted or otherwise secured upon the horizontal bar 26 is a plate having a long arm 36 and a short arm 37 formed thereon. Also formed on the plate is a bearing sleeve 38 through which the upper plain end of a feed screw 39 projects. The lower end of the feed screw 39 is journalled in a hearing sleeve 40 formed on the bracket 18. handle 41 is secured on the upper end of the feed screw 39 for "manual rotation of the feed screw when desired.

A guide bar 23 is secured to the slid-- A vertically movable carriage 42 is provided having an inclined top plate for carrying a stack of cup blanks 43. Mounted on the carriage 42 are rollers 44 and 45 which are positioned to track on opposite sides of the guide rails 27 to hold the carriage in a predetermined path. Formed on the carriage 42 is an arm 46 having an openingtherein through which the feed screw 39 projects. Pivotally mounted on the carriage arm 46 by means of a pin 47 is a pair of gripping handles 48 formed thereon for engagement with the feed screw 39. The handles 48 are separated by means of a coiled spring 50 which acts to hold the two half nuts 49 engaged against opposite sides of the carriage feed screw to permit the carriage to be raised or lowered when the feed screw 39 is rotated.

The mechanism for automatically rotating the feed screw to more the carriage conipriscs a ratchet 51 which is fixed on the feed screw 39. A pawl 52 co-acts with the ratchet 51 and is supported on a pin 53 which projects'downwardly through an opening provided in one arm of a bell-crank 54. The bell-crank 54 is pirotally engaged on the upper portion of the feed screw 39 between the ratchet 51 and the bearing 38. Attached to the bell-crank 54 is one end of a spring 55 which is formed to engage against a flattened surface on the lower projecting end of the pin 53 to hold the pawl in resilient contact with the ratchet 51. Connected to the long arm of the bell-crank 54 is one end of a coiled spring 56 the other end ot which is attached to the arm 36 of the plate 35. The spring 56 acts to normally hold the long arm of the bell-crank 54 against the end of astop pin or rod 57 which is fastened to one side of the arm 36 to limit the throw of the bell-crank by the spring 56.

Projecting through the upright arm 36 is an upper horizontal stationary rod or shaft 58 provided with a longitudinal slot 59 (Fig. 1). An arm 60 is rigidly secured near the slotted end of said shaft 58. short rod 61 is secured to the outer end ot the arm 60 and is disposed parallel to the upper shaft 58. Also supported on the arm 36 is a lower horizontal stationary rod or shaft 62 parallel and disposed below the upper shaft 58. Slidably engaged on both of the shafts 58 and 62'to the outside of the arm 36 is a sliding yoke or bracket 6:3 having an arm 64 integrally formed thereon. Fulcrnmed on the yoke arm 64 is a member 65 to which one end of a bar 66 is secured. The bar 66 is positioned to Slide on a shoulder 67 provided on the stationary arm 36 to permit said bar 66 to enact with the hell-crank 54 to cause rotation of the. feed screw 39 by the pawl 52 acting on the ratchet 51. Pivotally connected to one end of the member 65 is one end of a link 68 the beam 69 to be tilted so that the bar 66 willbe tipped upwardly above the level of the other end of which is pivotally' connected to track .upon the uppermost cup blank 43 when the upper level of the stack of cup blanks reaches or passes a predetermined level. In case the cup blank carrying carriage has been fed upwardly to position the level of the uppermost cup blank above a proper feeding position, the roller 71 riding on the uppermost cup blank will cause the bell-crank 5 1 to prevent the bar 66 from operating said bell-crank, ,thus temporarily discontinuing the u ward feed of the carriage 42 by the feedscrew 39.

Rotatably supported on the short upright arm 37 of the plate is a gear 72 which is in mesh with the lower rack 25 and with an upper rack 73. The upper rack 73 is horizontally disposed and is secured to the lower end of an intermediate bracket or yoke 74 which is slidabl-y mounted on both of the stationary shafts 58 and 62. The rack 73 is provided with a shoulder 7 5 adapted to coact with the yoke 63 to slide the same in one direction onthe shafts 58, and 62. A cylindrical extension rod 7 6; is integrally formed on the rack 73 andslidably projects through an opening provided in the lower portion of the yoke 63. A head 77 is formed on.the end of the rack extension rod 76 to slide the yoke 63 in the opposite direction on the shafts 58 and 62.

Integrally formed on the arm 3 6 is a boss 78 (Figure 3) in which one end of a stationary stub shaft 79 is rigidly secured. F astened to the stub shaft 79 is a bracket 80 which projects outwardly and downwardly and has a stop arm 81 secured thereto in position to serve as a stop against which the uppermost cup blanks 43 are adapted to engage to hold the cup blanks properly stacked on the carri age 42.

Rigidly secured on the end of the stub N shaft 79, is a casting or block 82 having an opening therein through which a rod or shaft 83 slidably projects. A head 84 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 83 to limit the inward movement of said shaft when said adapted to be engaged. Slidably projecting head 84 contacts the block 82. Secured on the inner end of the shaft 83 is a plate 85 having-a cam edge 86. A projection or stop is formed on the cam-plate'85. Wound around the shaft 83 is a coiled spring 87 one end of which .bears against the block 82 while the other end engages against the cam plate 85. The cam plate 8.5 is positioned to 'slidably project through a guide block 88 integrallyformed on the yoke 7 4 and against which the projection on the cam plate 85 is the stop collars 90. Rigidly secured or integrally formed on the other end of the slidable rod 89 is a guide cam 92 having a cam 86 of the plate 85 affords a guide passage for a roller 94. The roller 94 is adapted to roll on the cam edge 86 of the cam plate 85.

A cup blank buckling mechanism is pro-- vided and comprises a bracket 95 which is supported on the shaft 79 and has pivotally supported in the bifurcated end thereof a bar 96. A counterweight 97 is adjustably engaged on a reduced end of the bar 96. A spring controlled cup blank pusher '98- is pivotally supported on one end of the bar 96. Secured to the bar 96 is an arm 99 having a tapered finger 100 formed thereon. An arm 101 is positioned to co-act with the tapered finger 100. A set screw 102 is set to one end connected in an intake passage of the valve mechanism 105 and the-other end con-. nected to a suction block or nozzle 108. The

'edge 93 which together with the cam edge suction block 108 is pivoted betweena pair of arms 109 which are supported on a bracket 110 secured to the slidable yoke 103. A lever orarm 111 is'connected to the valve stem of the valve mechanism 105 for'coaction with the rod 61 (Figure 1) and a I same into the machine. Guide bars 116 are I supported on the machine frame and are positioned to serve as guides for the-stack of cup blanks 4:3 on the carriage i2.

Theoperation is as follows:

"Vhen the machine is operating a reciproeating motion is given to the slide table 4 by means of the lever 5 which receives a drive from the machine t hro'ugh the shaft 6. Before the machine is started the handles 43 are gripped manually. and forced together thereby,compressing the spring 50 and moving the half nut members .49 out of engagement with the carriage feed screw 39. The carriage 42 is thus released and is permitted to slide downwardly with the guide rollers 44 and 45 tracking on opposite sides of the guide rails 27. The carriage 42 is thus.

lowered to the lower end of the feed screw or to any desired elevation. The handles 48 are then released and the spring 50 acts to force said handles apart thereby again mov ing the half nuts 49 into threaded engagement with the feed screw 39. A stack of cup blanks of the required shape are now placed upon the inclined top plate of the carriage 42 and against the guide bars 116 and the guide'Sl which act to hold the cup blanks properly stacked upon the feed car nag-e.

hen the machine is started, the table 4 is reciprocated as already described. As shown in Figure 5 the spring 56 acts to hold the long arm of the bell-crank 54 against the end of the stop pin 57 and the spring 55 holds the pawl 52 in engagement with the ratchet 51 to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet and the feed screw 39- As the table 4 is moved from its innermost position (Figure 1). outwardly beneath the stationary table 2, the rack 25 attached to the slidable table 4 is moved outwardly thereby rotating the gear 72 which being in mesh with the rack 73 pulls said rack inwardly thereby sliding the yoke 74 and at the same time pulling the rack extension 76 through the yoke 63 until the head 7 7 contacts said yoke 63 and forces the same inwardly on the shafts 58 and 62 toward the stationary arm 36. As the yoke 63 slides inwardly. the bar 66 connected with said voke slides inwardly over the shoulder 67 of the arm 36 and is forced against the bellcrank 54 operating the'same and thereby causing the pawl 52 to rotate theratehet 51 and the feed screw 39. It will thus be noted that as the table 4 continues to be reciprocated, the feed screw 39 is rotated, thereby causing the carriage 42 to be gradually elevated to raise the stack of cup blanks a predetermined amount with each reciprocation of the slide table.

It is desired to keep the level of the uppermost blank of the stack at a certain height .to permit proper feeding of the cup blanks into the machine. Should the blank carrying carriage 42 be elevated too high, the

roller 71 is adapted to track over the top of the stack of cupblanks and causes the beam 69 to pivot thereby forcing the link (i8 downwardly to cause the bar 66 to swing upwardly out of the plane of the bell-crank 54. The bar will thus pass over the bellcrank 54 and will not actuate the same so that no further feeding of the blank carry-'- ing carriage. 42 will take place until the level of the stack of .cup blanks has been reduced to the required level.

It will thus be noted that the feed carriage 42 is adapted to be automatically fedJ upwardly as cup blanks are taken therefrom and that the feeding of the carriage is automatically stopped when the cupblanks are elevated above a predetermined level.

\Vhen the machine is in operation, the air valve 115 is opened to permit air to be blown through the nozzle 113 against one side of the upper portion of the stack of cup blanks. This is done to separate the flat cup blanks so that only one blank at a time will be removed from the stack.

The suction mechanism 108 is next brought into operation to produce a suction to automatically draw the uppermost cup blank 43 upwardly against the bottom of the suction block. As this operation takes place, the yoke 74 moving on the shafts 58 and 62 approaches the stationary arm 36 thereby carrying the block 88 toward the pusher mechanism. The arm 101 is thus moved into engagement with the tapered finger 100 thereby causing the fulcrumed bar 96 to swing downwardly raising the counterweight 97. As this operation occurs. the screw 102 is brought into contact with the upper end of the pusher handle to swing the same causing the pusher head 98 to push the uppermost cup blank and buckle the same as illustrated in Figure 3, to separate the uppermost blank from the blank immediately therebelow. The uppermost blank is thus attracted to the suction device 108 and then buckled by the pusher head ready to be lifted from the stack and transferred onto one end of the stationary table 2.

The gripper mechanism is now brought intov position to clamp'one margin of the raised cup blank as the suction device is operated to cause automatic release of said cup blank. The gripper mechanism now acts to draw or advance the cup blank over the stationary'table and beneath the retaining spring 19 and onto the table 4 against the stop flange 21 and in front of the stops 20 and 22. lVhen the cup blank has been sufiiciently advanced upon the slide table 4 the toggle mechanism 30 contacting the screw 32 causes automatic release of said cup blank. \Vit-h the cup blank advanced 'onto the table 4 a portion of the cup blank projects beyond the advance edge of said table and is disposed substantially in the plane of'the meeting surfaces of the cup forming dies of the cup forming machine ready to be formed into a cup and then discharged.

The cycle of operations may be repeated as often 'as desired to permit the cup blanks 43 on the,carriage 42 to be automatically elevated and then lifted automatically one by one from the stack onto the stationary i a pertured into the field of operation of the cup formadapted to have rolling contact with the mg dies to be formed into cups. 7 cup blanks on said carriage to cause the re- The feed screw 89'may be operated manuciprocat ng member to be moved to mlss ally by means of the handle' ll, if desired operating said means when the blanks on to ause raising or lowering of the blank the carriage have been raised too high.v carrying carriage l2. 4. The combination with a cup forming I. am aware that many changes maybe machine, of a blank carrying carriage supmade, and numerous details of construction ported thereon, rack and gear means opermaybe varied through a wide range without ated from the machine for elevating the departing from the principles of this invencarriage, and a control mechanism contion. and I therefore do not purpose limiting nected with the rack and gear means and the patent granted hereon, otherwise than governed by the height of-the upper level necessitated the prior art. of the blanks on said-carriage to cause I claim as my invention: said means to fail to ele ate the carriage 1. A cup blank feeding attachment comwhen the level of the blanks on said carriage prising a feed screw: a cup blank supportis above a predetermined height.- ing carriage, gripping means thereon for 5. The combination with a cup forming engaging the feed screw; a pawl and ratchet machine, of a support mounted thereon, an mechanism connected with said feed screw, adjustable cup blank carrying carriage on a bl'ank'feeding table, means for reciprosaid support, means for elevating the carcating the same. a rack mechanism operriage. a gear and double rack mechanism ated by said blank feeding table, and means operable from the machine, and a device actuated by said rack mechanism for operactuated thereby for operating said elevat ating the pawl and ratchet. mechanism to ing mea-ns'to cause'said carriage to advance cause rotation of the feeding screw and elethe cup blanks. ration of the carriage.

combination with a feed screw, a cup blank adjustable cup blank carrying carriage on supporting carriage. longitudinally movable said support, means for elevating the carwith respect thereto, means on said carriage riage, a gear and double rack mechanisms for releasably engaging the feed screw, a operable from the machine, a yoke member pawl and ratchet mechanism connected with shdablv supported on the support, an

the feed screw. reciprocating rack means actuating mechanism. carried thereby. and

for actuating the pawl and ratchet mechastops on oneotsaid double rack mechanism to cause rotation of the feed screw to nisms for reciprocating the yoke. member (3. The combination with a cup forming 2. In a blank feeding attachment, the machine. of a support mounted theron, an

elevate the carriage, and means connected and said actuating mechanism'to cause the with the reciprocating means and, adapted actuating mechanism to operate the elevatto track on the cup blanks on said carriage mg means to raise the carriage. to cause the reciprocating means to miss 7 The combination w th a cup forming operating the pawl and ratchet mechanism machine -of a reciprocating table operate carriage. had been raised above a"prede-. termined height. ciprocating table for elevating the carriage,

3. The combination with a cup forming a device for separating the upper cup machine, of a bracket thereon, abar supblanks of said stack. and means forautoported on the machine. guide rails connectmatically causing said elevating means not ing said bracketwith said bar, a feed to elevate the carriage when said stack of screw supported by the bracket and bar, a blanks has been raised above a predetercarriageadapted to support a stack of cup mined level. blanks. guides for retaining the cup blanks 8. A cup blank feeding attachment comengaged to roll on "said guide rails, an the same against longitudinal movement; p ro ect1ou on said carriage a cup. blank carrying carr age, an apertured through which the teed screw projects, arm formed thereon through which the feed handles pivoted on said projection, nut screw projects, handles pivoted on said arm,

members on said handles, a spring between nut members on said handles, aspring besa1d handles for normally holdmg the nut tween said handles for holding the nut members engaged with said feed screw, members engaged with said feed screw, and

means for rotating the feed screw to cause means connected with the feed screw to the carriage to be elevated. a reciprocating cause rotationthereof and elevation of themember for actuating said means, a rack carriage.

operated device for operating the recipro In testimony whereof. I- have hereunto eating member, and a control mechanism' subscribed my name.

supported on the rack operated device and I connected with said reciprocating member CESARE BARBIEBL when the level of the cup blanks on the thereby, a carriage for carrying astack ofcup blanks. means operated from the re- '115 properly stacked, rollers" on said carriage prising a feed screw. :1 support for holding. 

